FTO AUSTRALIA

Get ready for an epic journey of beers and crying in the corner as i attempt to restore this neglected icon to better than it's former glory.

Godspeed and good luck, Jimbob.

Hopefully Bennoz won't have to comment 'lol' on this in five years time

Keeps eyes on this one

First port of call is the roof.
Has had a full replacement but they did not coat any of the welds, so now we have roof rust where we never usually see it.
Giving it a good spray with acid and let sit for a couple of days.
Get some cold gal on and then rust proof it.

Acid is doing a bang up job. Going to give it one more hit and let it dry up.
Cold gal and blow off with compressed air to se what sticks before i rust proof it.
Cannot afford to have anything corrode again.

Did some guard rolling.
Evo rims really line up nice with a 15mm spacer but will whack on the 20mm i have on hand to make sure they all clear with space to spare.

Plenty of rust in the not so usual places. If the panel shop had done the job proper we would not be doing this.
I know there is rust in the seams, but all i can do is keep jacking the car either side and let the acid seep into the edges.
Entire roof is going back to metal and removing all the rain channel guides. Just going to have to get some seam sealer to keep the rain channel covers rigid.

Would that rust be due to roof not being primed straight away or other things?
But coming along

aza013 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 10:59 am Would that rust be due to roof not being primed straight away or other things?
But coming along

None of the welds were coated after the roof was replaced.

Never put your hand up to paint an engine bay. Bit more to go.
Rest of the car is stripped. Almost time to drag out the the sander and get into it.

You’re smashing this out

Roof rust all but sorted.
Just need to seal the inside of outer seams and rust proof.
Replacement roof is pretty flimsy so will need to brace the centre channel just so i can sand it properly.
Have dropped acid in around the windshields and will epoxy them in the morning.
Just giving the body a basic the sand with 120 and then put on a profile pad and finish with 240 ready for primer.

Epoxy coating on the front end.
Will over coat with body deadener and rust proof inside the chassis.
Fresh seam sealer when the guards go on.

That's the 120 sand in. Whack on a profile pad and give it a whizz with 240.
Roll the front guards and remove. Repair drivers door then sand inside the doors and engine bay.
Intend on having the body and all panels prepped and primed over my holidays.

We are a bit more stripped down than i intended. But f**k it, do it right once.
Just a little more masking and sanding then up for primer.

The repair & paint job it so desperately deserved..

Gonna be one clean machine when it's all finished up!

Well, she copped several coats of polyester primer.
Knocked that back with 120/240 and then hit the body with 2k urethane primer thinned 20%.
Will sand that with 320/400 and be ready for base and clear.
Wrap the shell up and move onto the panels.

Got the bay painted up.
Frustrating job but came up really nice.